Rep. Peter King: Michael Jackson a 'child molester' and 'pervert'

Newsday
BY REID J. EPSTEIN
July 6, 2009

Rep. Peter King Sunday said people clamoring about Michael Jackson's death should just beat it.

The Seaford Republican posted a two-minute YouTube video Sunday blasting the late King of Pop as "some pervert" and blaming political correctness in the media for the wall-to-wall coverage of Jackson's death.

"Let's knock out the psychobabble," King said in the video, which was posted by his campaign. "He was a pervert, a child molester; he was a pedophile. And to be giving this much coverage to him, day in and day out, what does it say about us as a country? I just think we're too politically correct."

Jackson family spokesman Ken Sunshine told the Associated Press Monday the family is preparing for Jackson's funeral and will not dignify King's statement with a comment.

Standing in front of the Wantagh American Legion Hall, King said "there's nothing good about" Jackson.

"No one wants to stand up and say we don't need Michael Jackson. He died, he had some talent, fine," he said. "He may have been a good singer, he did some dancing. Bottom line is, would you let your child or grandchild be in the same room with Michael Jackson? What are we glorifying him for?"

In an interview Sunday night, King said he made the video to highlight efforts made by teachers, police officers and firefighters that he said go unrecognized by celebrity-obsessed media.

"I've seen so many good people the last few days, who aren't going to get credit for anything," he said, "and then I see this guy, who's really a lowlife, and he's being treated like a hero of civilization."